'View Through a Park' by Richard Mandin (1945)

'View Through a Park', oil on board, by Richard Mandin (1945). Painted in a naive style, the artist transports the viewer to another place by his expressive use of line and colour. The painting depicts a scene of simple buildings seen through a strip of trees whose leaves have fallen. The location is deliberately vague - it could be anywhere, thereby inviting the viewer to let their imagination appoint its location. This painting is in very good vintage condition commensurate with its age. Painting is signed in lower left hand side, 'Mandin 1945'. Please carefully view the listing's accompanying photos to best appreciate its condition and aesthetic qualities. It sits beautifully in its original frame with linen slip as is common in the South of France. A short video clip of this work may be provided upon request. 

About the Artist: Richard Mandin (1909 - 2002) was born in Marseille, France. He was a painter, illustrator and accomplished musician. At fifteen, he entered the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Marseille then the Ecole du Louvre in Paris. At 23, he returned to his hometown never to move again. He worked tirelessly, but exhibited little. He struggled financially, selling his paintings here and there. In 1946, he exhibited in Paris with fellow Provençal artists, Pierre Ambrogiani, Antoine Ferrari and Auguste Chabaud. The exhibition did not go unnoticed; the following year he was selected for a major exhibition in New York with Braque, Chagall, Monet, Chabaud  and Picasso. Mandin, an expressionist, used triturated paint which covered his drawings in thick layers. He loved this technique and material which somewhat explains why the subjects of his paintings are sometimes blurred and indistinguishable. His painted clouds, trees and rocks can evoke shapes or silhouettes of characters, horses or other animals. The artist's pantings are vibrant and richly coloured - they delight the viewer by creating a visual echo of his beloved music. Today Mandin's works can be found in museums in Marseille and other towns in the south of France and are widely collected. Although no longer with us, his art is rising in demand as evidenced by the spirited bidding at European auction houses when his pieces become available.

Dimensions with frame:

H 36 cm / 14.2"

W 41 cm / 16.1"

Dimensions without frame:

H 19 cm / 7.5"

W 24 cm / 9.4"